Extraversion and Neuroticism in Contact Athletes, No Contact Athletes and Non-athletes: A Research Note

Two groups (n = 86) of university athletes (contact, no contact) and two matched groups (n = 86) of non-athletes completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1968). Extraversion did not vary significantly between athletes and non-athletes or between contact and no contact athletes, but it was higher for athletes compared to American college norms. For neuroticism, athletes scored significantly lower than non-athletes. Because neither extraversion or neuroticism changed over time (four years of study), these results are consistent with the gravitational hypothesis that people higher in extraversion and lower in neuroticism are attracted to university sports.